MANILA — Government agencies, led by the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, assured Saturday that the programs and services rolled out under the “Biyaya ng Pagbabago” national poverty alleviation agenda will be continuously felt by Filipinos, especially those living below the poverty line.
In a press briefing held during the “1st Urban Poor Day” event at Camarin D Elementary School in Caloocan City, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño said all those who availed of the services extended by different government agencies will have a follow through.
“That is why we have a registration (system),” Diño said, noting that the data system will help them analyze which programs and services need to be more accessible, and should be brought closer to the people. It is also a way to find out who are already accessing these services.
Diño said those who availed of the programs of the “Biyaya ng Pagbabago” may approach their respective city and municipal health offices for the other health services they need, as the data will be forwarded to local health centers.
He added that the data will also be classified and forwarded to other government agencies so the poor can access the services they need.
The services that were rendered during the convergence of services include medical mission, livelihood training, legal assistance, massage, haircutting, feeding program, awareness on harmful effects of drug abuse, and the issue on federalism.
For his part, Undersecretary Joselito Libres of the Office of the Participatory Governance (OPG) under the Office of the Cabinet Secretary said the “Biyaya ng Pagbabago” program was initially launched in Davao City last December 2017 as a complementary poverty alleviation program seeking to substantiate, and contribute to the realization of the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017 – 2022.
“This is being rolled out in the entire country , in all the regions together with different sectors. We want all the agencies to help together in ensuring that services will be provided immediately and effectively towards the people especially those who really need them — the poor,” Libres said.
Libres also urged beneficiaries to participate and take an active role in the program.
“We want them to also do their role in accessing the services. So there will be two approaches here –government and the people helping together in providing solution to poverty especially the impoverished ones — farmers, fishermen, Lumads and urban poor, the sectors with serious poverty incidence,” he added.
The event was conducted by the PCUP, headed by its chairperson and CEO Atty. Noel K. Felongco.
Felongco said that the event was the government’s way of making the services and programs of the Duterte administration closer to the people.
“The government is bringing (these services) nearer to the people because this is where the heart of Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte is,” Felongco said during his opening remarks at the event.
The event is also in line with the goal of reducing poverty incidence in the country under the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.
Felongco said the initiative aims to reduce poverty incidence by seven percent from its current rate, which is 21.6 percent, in a bid to lift at least six million Filipinos from poverty. (Leilani Junio/PNA)
